The league MVP candidate, injured during the first half of Houston's 2-0 semifinal triumph over Sporting Kansas City, remained on the bench so he could celebrate with his teammates but told the league website following the trophy presentation that a torn right quadriceps muscle would rule him out of the showpiece match.

The injury occurred in the 36th minute of Sunday’s game when Davis slid through Sporting midfielder Graham Zusi in an attempt to reach the ball.

“I don’t even think (Zusi) touched me a whole lot. It was one of those freak things,” Davis said. “I turned and felt my quad pop. It stinks. Go all year, no injuries, and worst possible time to have something happen, it happened.”

The 29-year-old playmaker started every one of the Dynamo’s 34 regular-season games this year and tallied four goals and a league-leading 16 assists. He also set up two of his team’s three goals in the quarterfinal series win over the Philadelphia Union and was considered the centerpiece of Houston’s title hopes.Now, the Dynamo likely will face either the L.A. Galaxy or Real Salt Lake without their team MVP, but perhaps a bit more confident after scoring both goals against K.C. without Davis on the field.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this team. I was saying, if my season ended (Sunday) I’d be disappointed by I’d still be proud of the year,” Davis said. He added that at halftime, with the game scoreless, he told his teammates to “gut it out,” and that “it’s going to take every single guy to play this game to the last whistle.”

It worked on Sunday in Kansas City. It will have to suffice again on the biggest stage of all.